The Bahamas
January 30, 2019
"You've only turned twenty six. Why the sudden change?" A man said after taking a drink from his glass of vodka. He was sitting on a beach chair next to a younger guy.
"I want to live." The twenty six year old replied.
"You are living, son." The older man said without turning away from the view in front of him, the beach.
"A better life, father."
The older man finally turned to his left and looked at his child. "You fell in love, didn't you."
"Yes." The son said bluntly. He doesn't need to hide it. Nothing escapes the knowledge of his father, his boss. No matter how hard he will try and cover it up, it's no use.
"Same person?" The father asked. The young man only nodded.
"Tsk. I thought I taught you better, Tee."
"I'm still alive, aren't I?"
"True."
"So..." Tee sighed deeply "How do I get out of this?" He was nervous. But he had to be firm and get concrete answers. He's never asked anything for years he worked for his father but to meet the person he fell in love with. And now, he wanted to make the ultimate wish. A way out.
"You don't." Tee's father replied, his face expressionless. It rendered Tee clenching his jaws and fists. "Our group is not made for quitters, Baramee."
"I'd like to not hear or use that name. Ever again." Another wish...
"It's not a name." Tee's father responded. "It's you."
"Father."
"This is my sacred place, Tee. You barged in unannounced. You expect me to be happy?"
"I didn't." Tee didn't flinch from his father's cold tone. "I expected answers."
"I gave you one."
"Not the one I wanted to hear."
The father and son stared at each other for a few seconds, neither one was yielding.
"Tell me one thing, Tee." Tee's father finally broke the uncomfortable silence. "Did you ever shed a tear for me?"
"No." Tee answered, his poker face plastered on his face.
"Your mother?"
"No."
"Peter?"
"No."
"He was a good rabbit." The older managed to smile thinly. "A coyote still ate him after being snatched and killed by Rudolph."
"...."
"Rudolph, your dog?" Tee's father continued to ask.
"No."
"How about your parents. Biological parents?"
Tee paused for a second.
"No."
"Hm. How about this love affair... Did you ever shed a tear?"
Tee clenched his jaws. Almost too hard. His father glanced at him, his eyes calculating every twitch in Tee's face. "I see." He said with a small nod. Tee remained quiet. He has never shed a tear on anyone. But one.
His father continued after a long silence. "I can't burn 'Baramee'." He said then gulped another file of his drink. "He never existed."
Tee's face lit up. He knows his father's language. He was hoping...
"Don't be too happy yet, son."
Tee cleared his throat. "Yes, father."
"CIA-Code X is the black ops of all black ops. Baramee was never an agent." Tee's face wrinkled at his father's statement. "I knew you'd be a great black operative just like I was."
"Just like you ARE, father."
"Yeah." Tee's father said, dejectedly. "I have no way out. Well. Unless I get a burn notice and be stuck. Preferably. Here. I love the beach. I can be an aimless fisherman or a homeless man..." He chuckled.
"And the women?" Tee added.
"Don't tell your mother."
"Tsk."
"I didn't cheat on her, I swear." Tee's father sighed in his defense.
"Keep telling yourself that."
Theodore can't argue about his love problem with his son. "Anyway, about your status --"
"Yeah."
"Baramee was a ghost. You're my son. My legacy. I didn't want a certain government take advantage of my masterpiece. They already have plenty from myself."
"Dad. I-"
"I only have one very special agent. Mine. Was mine."
Tee smiled at his father. Warmly.
"Now, don't be emotional with me, kid"
Tee chuckled. This is the longest he's had a talk with his father.
"You are your own agent now, Tee. Or whatever you choose to be."
Tee was about to give his father a hug when the old man stopped him.
"We don't do hugs, kid."
But Tee was stubborn. He hugged his father so tight, the old man almost fell on the sand.
"Okay-okay. I felt the love, kid."
Tee just giggled inwardly after almost suffocating the old man.
"You have a flight to catch, right?" the old man asked.
Tee nodded. Still smiling.
"Go. We are attracting more daddy long legs here."
Tee got up, his smile wasn't leaving his face.
"You know how to contact me. As your father."
"Yes dad." Tee smiled one more time before he got to his heels and left.
Upon reaching a room at Grand Hyatt Baha Mar, Tee gathered the little luggage he has. He opened a burner phone and sent a text to a local number.
<Baramee.Out.Indefinitely>
On the other side of the building, under a beach umbrella, Theodore laughed at a text he received.
<From unknown number: Baramee.Out.Indefinitely>
